Chapter 10: The Divine Gift from Shenxiao, a Tremendous Surge in Power!

“Ah?”

Shen Xiao’s blunt honesty left Nalan Yanran momentarily at a loss.

“Do you think Shen Lang deceived you with his plan?”

Shen Xiao slowly shook his head. “There is nothing wrong with his plan. I simply don’t believe his claim that he wants to use me to exact revenge.”

Nalan Yanran was puzzled. “Then what does he mean?”

Shen Xiao lifted his gaze toward the distant void and sighed softly. “A poison master who has endured twenty-three years of suffering—how could he possibly rely on others to carry out his vengeance?”

“His true purpose is likely to break through in martial arts, which is why he’s holding back parts of the plan.”

Shen Xiao’s words made Nalan Yanran suddenly realize the truth.

Indeed, Shen Lang’s brilliance was undeniable, but this world has always valued strength above all else.

And in the current Great Qin dynasty, the only person capable of transforming Shen Lang fundamentally was Shen Xiao himself.

With this understanding, Nalan Yanran’s expression hardened into an icy resolve.

“Master, that scoundrel dared to scheme against you. Should I go and teach him a lesson?”

“Why teach him?” Shen Xiao looked at Nalan Yanran with a playful glint. “Don’t you think it’s a good thing that he needs me?”

“A good thing?” Nalan Yanran was confused again. “How could that be good?”

“If he can make use of me, it means he will never escape my grasp.”

“If not, do you think I would let him live to see another day?”

Nalan Yanran was taken aback by the question but then remembered how Shen Lang had mentioned the Tu family name without batting an eye in court, causing a cold gleam to flash across her eyes.

“I won’t hesitate. I will tear him apart, break his soul, and ensure he has no chance of survival!”

“That’s why he volunteered to go to Guiyun City to collect taxes—to submit his token of loyalty.”

“And I must also let him walk further down the path of martial arts.”

As Shen Xiao’s words hung in the air, three books and a lotus flower radiating sacred light suddenly appeared above the Taiji Hall.

“Take these four items to him.”

Nalan Yanran was stunned. “Master, these are divine treasures. You’re really giving them all to him?”

“Yes, all of them. If he’s not at ease, neither am I.”

Seeing Shen Xiao close his eyes, Nalan Yanran hesitated but ultimately obeyed his orders.

Meanwhile, inside the imperial palace.

Shen Canghai looked at Shen Lang leisurely strolling along and couldn’t help but urge him, “Can’t you walk any faster? Your sister-in-law is waiting at home to help you review martial arts!”

Thinking of Zi Yuan’s scheming ways the day before, Shen Lang twitched the corner of his mouth. “What’s the rush? The emperor’s reward hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Reward?”

Shen Canghai was stunned, then his expression turned grave. “What poisonous scheme did you present to His Majesty this time?”

“Nothing more than a small trick against the Zhao clan,” Shen Lang replied casually.

But Shen Canghai’s heart surged with fury.

The strategy Shen Lang casually mentioned was essentially extermination of a family.

Wasn’t that far more outrageous?

Considering the Zhao clan’s power, Shen Canghai warned solemnly, “Lang’er, you must speed up your martial cultivation. The Zhao clan won’t let you off!”

As a seasoned player in political intrigue, Shen Lang understood what Shen Canghai meant.

However, he deliberately delayed his advancement to dispel Shen Xiao’s doubts.

Or rather, he wanted to give Shen Xiao a reason to believe he could still control him before truly becoming powerful.

Otherwise, when the birds have all flown, the good bow is put away; when the crafty hare is dead, the hunting dogs are cooked—that fate would surely be his.

At that moment, Nalan Yanran was rushing toward them.

Shen Lang’s lips curved into a confident smile. “Don’t worry. From today on, I won’t fall behind in my cultivation!”

“Shen Lang, wait!”

Hearing this, Shen Lang feigned ignorance. “Miss Nalan, is there something you need?”

Seeing Shen Lang pretending not to understand, Nalan Yanran rolled her eyes.

“Aren’t you a strategist? Don’t you know why I’m here?”

“My old man went back to prepare the betrothal gifts. Miss Nalan has agreed to marry me!”

“Ah?”

Shen Canghai was stunned.

Nalan Yanran’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Then Shen Lang’s mind echoed with the system’s prompt.

[Beep. Resentment value from Nalan Yanran increased by 30.]

“Bastard!”

Nalan Yanran glared at the mischievous smirk on Shen Lang’s face and realized that she was no match for him intellectually.

Without another word, she stuffed the treasures bestowed by Shen Xiao into Shen Lang’s hands.

“These were given by Master. Don’t ever disappoint him!”

“Or I will make you regret it for the rest of your life!”

With that, she flew away in a huff before Shen Lang could respond.

Watching her retreating figure, Shen Lang muttered, “Another piece of work, huh?”

“My heavens, this is the legendary Ninefold Profound Skill, divine-grade medicinal materials, and the Nine Brahma Immortal Lotus...”

“Lang’er, what kind of poisonous scheme did you offer His Majesty to receive such a grand reward?”

Hearing this, Shen Lang inwardly shuddered.

He had expected Shen Xiao to reward him in his cultivation path, but he never imagined Shen Xiao would actually offer divine-level techniques.

Moreover, three different volumes covering mental cultivation, body forging, and swordsmanship.

But within moments, Shen Lang understood Shen Xiao’s little trick.

He wanted to use the bottleneck of these divine techniques to completely control me.

You little witch, you clearly don’t know how powerful System Daddy is!

“System, do these three divine techniques have any loopholes?”

“The three divine techniques provided by the host all align with the supreme Dao and have no weaknesses.”

Satisfied with the lack of backdoors, Shen Lang regarded Shen Xiao even more highly.

Then he asked in his heart, “What are the effects of these three techniques?”

“The Ninefold Profound Skill can sanctify the body to the highest level—top-tier.”

“The Blue Lotus Sword Technique can cleave open the gates of heaven with a single strike—top-tier.”

“The Chaos Heart Sutra can cultivate one to immortality—top-tier.”

After hearing the system rate all three as top-tier, Shen Lang was thrilled.

“Can they be leveled up?”

“Of course.”

“Host, do you wish to enhance them?”

Shen Lang thought for a moment, then said solemnly, “With my current resentment value, how far can the Ninefold Profound Skill be advanced?”

“The Ninefold Profound Skill, as a divine technique, has nine levels.”

“The first level requires 10,000 resentment points.”

“The second level requires 50,000 resentment points.”

“The third level requires 150,000 resentment points.”

“...”

“Your current total resentment value is 76,321 points, allowing you to reach the second level!”

Hearing it was only the second level, Shen Lang raised an eyebrow. “How powerful is the body at the second level of the Ninefold Profound Skill?”

“It ignores damage from spirit weapons. At the same foundation stage, no one can shake your body!”

Shen Lang’s eyes lit up.

At the second level, his body would be invincible among those at the foundation stage.

Once fully cultivated, who the hell could still be his opponent?

With that thought, Shen Lang asked again, “What if I improve the Blue Lotus Sword Technique?”

“It can reach a minor mastery, capable of splitting mountains with a single strike!”

Damn.

That’s impressive too.

But for now, survival is the priority.

“System, upgrade the Ninefold Profound Skill to the second level first, then raise the Blue Lotus Sword Technique to the first level, and replace my current technique with the Chaos Heart Sutra.”

[Beep. Deducting 70,000 resentment points. Ninefold Profound Skill has reached second level. Blue Lotus Sword Technique has entered the beginner stage.]

Feeling the astonishing changes coursing through his body, Shen Lang’s heart surged with excitement.

He could hardly wait to go home and spar three hundred rounds with his sister-in-law!